What’s Ahead in 2022 — Dec. 31, 2021 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet
What’s Ahead in 2022?
The US Military budget of $768 Billion for 2022 passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. In fact, Congress added $24 Billion more to the military budget than President Joe Biden requested. Hawaii’s Congressional delegation – Mazie Hirono, Brian Schatz, Kai Kahele and Ed Case – all voted for it. Let’s face it. Weapons of war are the US modern day “Golden Calf” – False gods of metal. The U.S. needs a 12 step program to end it’s addiction to War. Red Hill military fuel leaking into Hawaii’s drinking water should be a big wake up call.
In contrast to the ever increasing US Military budget, Biden’s proposed “Build Back Better” bill has been chopped from $3.5 Trillion to $1.75 Trillion or less over 10 Years. It still hasn’t passed. Do the math: $700+ Billion per year over 10 years for militarism equals more than $7 Trillion. Congress says No problem! But $1.75 Trillion over 10 years (¼ of military spending) for meeting critical human needs is a problem – money for child and health care, combating climate change, reduce prescription drug costs, college completion grants, public housing repairs, food security, forest and park preservation, etc. It shows what the US priorities are! It’s all about big guns over human needs.
The US is saber rattling with Russia and China and the danger of nuclear war is ever present. Let’s remember, it was the US that promised Russia that NATO would not move eastward. The US broke its promise time and time again. The US and NATO are on Russia’s door step. The US helped initiate a coup in Ukraine and in many other countries. Remember the Jan. 17, 1893 coup when US troops assisted in the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani and the independent nation of Hawaii?
Overall, the US is a dangerous, desperate, declining, over extended empire and it must create enemies to feed its war machine even if it starves its own people. In biblical terms the US is great at pointing at the speck in another nation’s eye while ignoring the log in its own eye. Add to this situation the continuing Covid pandemic, and a growing dangerous domestic divide with Trump fascism hanging in the balance, and the picture is not bright. But all hope is not lost. No lie can live forever! Like the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, we need to celebrate, be joyful, live a life of non-violence, kapu aloha, and work for peace, justice, a demilitarized world, a free Hawaii, and a livable planet. Never give up!
Wage Peace Not War! Happy New Year!
1. Mourn all victims of violence. 2. Reject violence & war as solutions. 3. Defend civil liberties.
4. Oppose all discrimination, anti-Islamic, anti-Semitic, anti-Hawaiian, anti-Black, anti-Asian, etc.
5. Seek peace through peaceful means and work for justice in Hawai`i and around the world.
Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola’a (Kurtistown), Hawai’i 96760
Phone (808) 966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org to receive our posts. For more information www.malu-aina.org
Dec. 31, 2021 Hilo Peace Vigil leaflet – week 1057– Fridays 3:30-5PM downtown Post Office
-- Jim Albertini Malu 'Aina Center For Non-violent Education & Action P.O. Box 489 Ola'a (Kurtistown) Hawai'i 96760 Phone 808-966-7622 Email ja@malu-aina.org Visit us on the web at www.malu-aina.org
